Which FPL GW17 matches could be postponed due to Covid?
Since news of the Omicron variant began to emerge several weeks ago, the previously stable level of Premier League Covid-19 cases has started to spiral out of control at a time when FPL managers already had to consider fixture congestion as a factor.
The league have confirmed that the latest round of testing from December 6th-12th has brought 42 new positive results (from 3,805 tests), up from 12 the previous week. Prior to this, the most new cases in a week came back in August, with 16.
Following on from Sunday’s postponement of Brighton vs Tottenham, several midweek matches are now in jeopardy.
As of 6:55pm (GMT) on Monday, this is the state of play:
LEICESTER vs TOTTENHAM (Thursday)
Until Monday morning, this match was presumed to be most at risk, coming just four days after Spurs’ first affected fixture. Yet Sunday brought reports that their players were returning to training, wanting to avoid a third postponement having also had Gameweek 13’s match called off for snow.
But Monday brought worries of a setback to this plan and, with the trip to Leicester being on the final day of this round of fixtures, a decision on it may not be made until after Tuesday’s 6pm FPL deadline.
Leicester were without seven players against Napoli last week because of their own outbreak but were still able to play on Sunday versus Newcastle.
BRENTFORD vs MAN UNITED (Tuesday)
This match sounds most likely to be postponed. Ivan Toney may have been deemed ready to play after recovering from Covid but news emerged that Man United have a problem and request a cancellation, later backed up by an official statement on the club’s site.
“Manchester United can confirm that following PCR test confirmation of yesterday’s positive LFT Covid-19 cases among the first-team staff and players, the decision has been taken to close down first-team operations at the Carrington Training Complex for 24 hours, to minimise risk of any further infection. Individuals who tested positive are isolating per Premier League protocols.
“Given THE cancellation of training and disruption to the squad, and with the health of players and staff the priority, the Club is in discussion with the Premier League whether it is safe for Tuesday’s fixture against Brentford to continue, both from a Covid infection and player preparation perspective.
“Team and staff travel to London will be deferred pending the result of that discussion.”
As the Gameweek’s opening fixture, at least managers will know the decision pre-deadline, although a postponement would bring a new dilemma to those who have just purchased the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, David De Gea and Diogo Dalot.
NORWICH vs ASTON VILLA (Tuesday)
Scheduled to kick off 15 minutes afterwards is Dean Smith’s meeting with the club he was recently dismissed from. Going off Monday’s press conferences, both sides are affected by Covid but it’s not known how widespread.
“[Christos] Tzolis is our one confirmed COVID case so he’s isolating.” – Norwich’s Dean Smith
“We were all retested this morning and we’ve got a couple of cases on the playing side and we’ve got a couple of cases on the staff side. They are isolating now so we send our best wishes to them.” – Aston Villa’s Steven Gerrard
BRIGHTON vs WOLVES (Wednesday)
Brighton head coach Graham Potter confirmed in his press conference that a few positive results have come up within the squad and it’s now about controlling that number. Having already sat out the weekend’s action, Brighton have a second game to rearrange because of Chelsea’s Club World Cup duties in Gameweek 24. They won’t want a third but may have to.
“We have a combination of injury and Covid. We are around three or four and that is something we have to deal with. We are just checking to make sure it is at that number. We have had tests today and make a decision as to whether we do another tomorrow. We just want to make sure it does not get too serious and more than three and four.” – Potter
ARSENAL vs WEST HAM (Wednesday)
Monday evening brought another club to monitor, as Arsenal have reacted quickly and cautiously to news that several members of club staff have returned positive results.
MAN CITY vs LEEDS (Tuesday)
Nothing has yet been reported at Leeds but Pep Guardiola made a comment during his press conference about club staff having the virus.
THE REST
Four matches have avoided such questions so far: Burnley vs Watford (Wednesday), Crystal Palace vs Southampton (Wednesday), Chelsea vs Everton (Thursday) and Liverpool vs Newcastle (Thursday).
Let’s see if this is still the case on Tuesday, as each passing hour seems to bring more reports. From an FPL perspective, it’s perhaps best to wait until as close to the 6pm deadline as possible before making transfers.
